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This article was published on August 17th, 2021
There are many different types of brain injury and they all need to be treated accordingly, it’s important to know the different types of brain injuries and how they can affect you so you can get the help you need as soon as possible.
Brain injuries are commonly categorised as either acquired or traumatic.
An acquired brain injury is an injury that occurred at or since birth. Whilst it can include traumatic brain injuries it is more commonly used to refer to injuries due to a medical accident, tumour, stroke or infection.
Birth Injury
A birth injury can occur to either the mother or her baby, before, during or after birth which can result in damage to the brain. The most common injury to the brain of a child sustained at birth is Cerebral Palsy, this is a lifelong neurological condition that can be caused by several different things including lack of oxygen to the brain, head injury shortly after birth and an infection caught by the mother during pregnancy.
Tumour
A brain tumour is a growth of cells that divide and grow in an uncontrollable way. There are many different types of brain tumours and the lasting effects can depend on the severity. Symptoms vary but generally consist of headaches, seizures and paralysis on one side of the body.
Stroke
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, it is the most common non-traumatic cause of an acquired brain injury.
Traumatic brain injuries are injuries to the brain caused by trauma to the head, they are classified in terms of severity. They can either be mild, moderate or severe and can occur due to a variety of reasons.
Mild
A mild brain injury tends to cause headaches and dizziness. It is unlikely that it will result in unconsciousness as it only affects the outside of the head.
Moderate
A moderate brain injury can result in a brief period of unconsciousness. However, more common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, vomiting and levels of confusion or memory loss.
Severe
A severe head injury will usually result in a prolonged period of unconsciousness. It may also lead to aggressive or irrational behaviour and seizures.
There are various possible causes of a head injury, the most common being a road traffic accident, violent assault, fall, tumour or stroke.
Road Traffic Accident
Road traffic accidents including motorcycle accidents are responsible for some of the most severe forms of traumatic brain injuries, often resulting in Contusion or Haemorrhage.
A traumatic brain injury can occur in any road traffic accident involving motor vehicle drivers and passengers, motorcyclists or cyclists. In motor vehicles, a brain injury can occur when the head is jolted forwards and then backwards following an impact, the brain is violently shaken inside the skull causing damage to the brain.
Other types of brain injuries from road traffic accidents can include the head being struck by an object during a collision and injuries caused to motorcyclists and cyclists from the force of being thrown off a vehicle.
Violent Assault
Physical violence and assaults can cause traumatic brain injuries, in fact, violent assaults are one of the leading causes of head injuries, particularly amongst men. Brain injuries caused by violence can vary in severity from concussion to penetrating injury.
Fall
Trips and falls can happen anywhere, at any time and whilst they usually result in minor injuries, they can also have more serious consequences. Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries amongst young children and older adults. There has been an increase in age-related brain injuries due to the ageing population. Older adults that hit their head as a result of a fall are more likely to suffer from a brain injury due to the changes in brain structure and circulation that come with age.
Tumour
The effects of a brain tumour are dependent on the size and location of the tumour and how much it has spread. However, both the tumour and the treatment can lead to a permanent brain injury.
Stroke
A stroke can also be the cause of a long-term brain injury for both acquired brain injuries and traumatic brain injuries. The longer the flow of blood is interrupted in the brain, the greater the potential for long-term brain injury.
It is incredibly important to learn about the symptoms of a brain injury so you can be aware of the severity. The symptoms and effects of a brain injury can be dependent on the type, severity and location of the injury. However, there are some common symptoms to look out for:
The effects of a brain injury will vary significantly depending on several factors such as the location, type and severity of the injury.
People that have suffered from severe brain injuries are likely to have complex, long-term problems.
When someone has suffered a severe brain injury, it is likely that they will be referred to rehabilitation services. Here at Thorneycroft Solicitors, we recognise that rehabilitation is vital for these people, this is why we work with a range of charities and organisations both during the claim and after to ensure that all of our clients receive the best possible rehabilitative care.
Rehabilitation aims to help train the brain into alternative ways of working to attempt to minimise any long-term impacts of the brain injury and provide support to the person and their family to help them cope with any remaining disabilities.
Some of the charities and organisations that we work with in relation to brain injuries include:
The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust
The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) is a charity dedicated to providing support to those who have suffered a brain injury. They aim to provide the best quality neurobehavioral rehabilitation for people with complex brain injuries and they are committed to finding new and innovative solutions to help treat those who have sustained brain injuries in the UK.
Headway
Headway is a charity that works to improve the lives of those who have suffered a brain injury. They have a network of over 125 branches located across the UK aimed at offering support and information to both those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries and their loved ones. They also aim to improve awareness of the issues related to brain injury and also provide services and information to professionals in health and legal fields.
The Brain and Spinal Injury centre
The Brain and Spinal Injury Centre is otherwise known as BASIC is a charity that provides services and support to those who are recovering from acquired brain injury and spinal injury by providing a range of rehabilitative treatments to assist them and their loved ones. As a charity, they specialise in treatments for those who have suffered a range of brain injuries, including traumatic head injuries, brain haemorrhages, brain tumours and strokes.
At Thorneycroft we’re here to support you, we understand that the effects of a brain injury can be devastating. This is why we prioritise getting the highest possible compensation for your claim and ensuring that you get the best possible rehabilitative treatment both during and after your claim is settled.
For more information and help with your claim and rehabilitation, get in touch with one of our specialist catastrophic injury solicitors on 0800 1979345 or fill out our enquiry form today.
